Painting The Way To Home Safety

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15059, 20 August 1949, Page 4

Painting The Way To Home Safety

Many Lives Lost Through

Domestic Accidents

U.S. Housewives Creating Danger Signals

"Home is the most dangerous place there is," said an American "Safety First" expert recently. He brought out figures to prove it, too. Last year 33,000 lives were lost throughout America as the result of 'domestic accidents —burns, falls down stairs, tripping over mats, or taking medicine from the wrong bottle. "Minor injuries" reported by doctors totalled 5,000,000. The cost to the nation, says the same official source, ran into millions of dollars, from medical expenses, insurance, and lost working time. The American housewife is not taking all this lying down, writes Margaret McKinley. Just now she is being "educated" into ways and means of creating home-made danger signals that are silent, but (it is hoped) effective enough to stop Junior pulling a hot saucepan off a stove when mother is busy elsewhere.

The American housewife is beginning to use paint for this. That is part of the campaign. And, of course, behind it are the paint manufacturers. Nevertheless, the movement spreads, and housewives of course welcome anything that makes for safety whatever the source' from which it comes.

High up on the list of danger signals is the simple plan of having all pot and pan handles painted a bright red. The dash of colour warns the housewife against letting the handle . extend, away from the stove where it might be reached by small children. And the housewife protects herself because it warns ■her against the danger of burns. Doors that open on to steep stairs have always been traps for for children and adults. A warning word on the door serves as a dangersignal. And some housewives have begun to paint a white strip along the leading ledge of stairs for better visibility in the dark. Luminous paint is, of course, ideal for this purpose, as it is for painting wall switches and thus saving a stumble over the rug when baby calls out at night and gets you up half asleep. The medicine cabinet receives special attention. Bright red diagonal lines painted at the rear of the top shelf warns Junior that the stuff in the bottles up there isn't lemonade and doesn't even taste nice. "It's simple," says one American housewife. "It doesn't take long and it does bring a little peace of mind." GIFT PARTY AT WHAKAMARAMA (Times Correspondent) A gift evening in honour of Mr and Mrs L. Sharplin, was combined with the 500 card evening held at Whakamarama recently. The winners of the card competitions Mr and Mrs L. Sharplin. Mr L. Hearfie.d made a presentation to the guests of honour, Mr Sharplin suitably replying. .